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Steelers promote Fichtner to quarterbacks coach

The Steelers today promoted offensive assistant Randy Fichtner to quarterbacks coach. Fichtner replaces Ken Anderson, who retired after three seasons with the team.

Fichtner was hired to coach Steelers wide receivers in 2007. This is his first NFL job as a quarterbacks coach. He coached quarterbacks in college at Memphis and Arkansas State. Fichtner and coach Mike Tomlin were on the same staff at Arkansas State from 1997-98.

The Steelers will hire a new wide receivers coach to replace Fichtner. Last week, the Steelers interviewed former San Francisco 49ers assistant Al Everest for their special-teams coordinator vacancy.

Re: Steelers promote Fichtner to quarterbacks coach

Fichtner moves from WRs to QBs
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

By BOB LABRIOLASteelers.com
When Ken Anderson retired just days after the 2009 season ended, Coach Mike Tomlin knew he would have to find a new quarterbacks coach. It turns out he didn’t have to look much farther than down the hall.

Randy Fichtner, hired by Tomlin to coach the wide receivers in 2007, has been moved to quarterbacks coach. The change in job description means Fichtner goes from Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Mike Wallace to working with Ben Roethlisberger and Dennis Dixon, with Charlie Batch currently without a contract.

“Randy has extensive experience coaching quarterbacks on the collegiate level, some of whom had pro opportunities,” said Tomlin. “He has a familiarity with how we do business. He has a personal relationship with Ben. It’s a natural, a seamless transition for us.”

Before being hired by Tomlin as part of his initial staff of assistants, Fichtner coached quarterbacks at three different places in the college ranks – from 1990-93 at Memphis, from 1997-2000 at Arkansas State and from 2001-06 at Memphis when he also was the offensive coordinator.

On the surface, the move from coaching college quarterbacks to NFL quarterbacks might seem to be a simple one based on the talent differential, but it also can be seen as more challenging because of the status the successful professionals enjoy.

“It’s all difficult. It all has its challenges,” said Tomlin about coaching superstars. “It depends on the mentality of the guy. I think Ben sees himself as an average guy, so it’s a non-issue.”

Re: Steelers promote Fichtner to quarterbacks coach

maybe I'm reaching but it looks like we are trying to save money with our coaching staff...

This includes the Tomlin hire...

I don't have a problem if they saved $ with the Tomlin hire, they just got good value for their money!

This QB coach promotion certainly has the positives the author listed - familiarity with the system, with Ben. But as soon as i read it I thought of a flip side - here's a guy that is maybe not cojoney enough to tell Ben no when the occasion demands.

And where does this leave Charlie Batch? I was hoping so much he'd be QB coach, so he could stay Steeler.